Jimbo Fisher gives Jameis Winston assurance with plans to stay at FSU

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. | Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston kidded on Friday that if Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher went to the University of Texas, he’d follow him to Austin.

Fisher said that won’t be necessary.

It was another day of Fisher fending off the rumors that he might be pursued and sign with the Longhorns, regardless of the fact that Fisher signed a contract extension with Florida State earlier this week.

The reason why the chatter has persisted is exactly why some coaches might jump at the chance to replace Mack Brown: Texas boosters are rich enough to not worry about footing the bill for buyouts if the coach the school wants to hire breaks his contract.

Fisher, in addressing Winston’s joke, gave one more indication that he was going nowhere — at least publicly.

“He and I have a tremendous relationship,” Fisher said of Winston, following Florida State’s practice on Friday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. “I think the world of him, but we’ll be right here.”

When Fisher got another Texas question, he threw up his hands and laughed.

“It doesn’t matter what I say. You going to write what the heck you want to until someone takes that job. So we’re not going down that road.”

The top-ranked Seminoles (13-0) play No. 2 Auburn (12-1) for the BCS national championship on Monday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.